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M. A. MAUS.

APPARATUS FOR FBRMENTING MALT LIQUORS. No. 253,214. `v Patented Feb. 7,1882.

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(N Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2 M. A. MAUS.

APPARATUSKFOR FERMBNTING MALT LIQUORS.

No. 253,214. Patented'eb. 7,1882.

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' ofthe cylinder; and c2 is a drain-cock.

UNITED` MATTHIAS A. MAUS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIAA.

APPARATUS FOR FERMENTING [VIALT LiQfUORS.l

SPECIFICATION forming part o-f Letters Patent No. 253,214, dated February 7, 1882,

Application filed October 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATTI-rms A. Maus, ot Indianapolis, Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Fermenting Malt Liquors, of which the followingi is a description and specification, and the draw- ,f ings led herewith illustrate the method of constructing and using the same.

In Figure No. 2 are represented three vats, B 132133, closed at the top, into which the beerl has been placed for fermentation. Through the head of each of these vats two pipes are passed, each set of pipes connecting the vat from which they proceed with one of the other vats. As the fermentation proceeds the carbonic-acid gas rises through the liquid, passing out the pipe G. Two-way cocks b 11203 are set so that the gas may pass upward through the tubes EEZFP to the hollow cylinder O, or through the pipes F F2 F3 into the other vats. These pipes are attached by elbows to others, F, which pass down near to the bottom of each vat and terminate inA perforated cross-pipesf.

' A is the water-tank, used for regulating` theA pressure by the weight of its water-column, having a drain-cock, a.

D is a pipe, attached to the watertank and also to the cylinder O by suitable couplings. Itis obvious that water will stand at the same height in the tank A and pipe D.

l'lhe hollow cylinder C, which may be either suspended or supported above the fermentingvats, has stop-cocks c, to which tubes E E2. E3, connecting with the two-way cocks b b2 b3, are attached. At each end ot' the cylinder are openings, covered with caps, for the cleaning.

G G G are short pipes, which' pass through the headof each vat, terminating just below it and above the level of the liquid.

The regulating of pressure in vats or casks where liquor is fermenting by means of a water column is old and well known, and is shown in Letters Patent issuedto George Wallace, March 5,1867, No. 62,581, and in the later patents issued to Bartholomae, and Meller and Hoffman, and is probably familiar to brewers, so that I need not describe it, for I claim nothing of this as my invention; but I believe that in the use of the water-column for regulating the pressure upon beer fermenting either in vats or casks it has been found that where the fermentin-g-casks are directly connected with the water-column, as in the apparatus of Wallace, and Meller and Hoffman, the foam and condensible gases 'are all forced, as the pressure increases, directly into and through the water in the tank A. This makes the water 5 frothy and dirty, `and it becomes lighter and rises over the top of the tank, while, at the same time, the pressure is decreased. The water must therefore frequently be 'changed in the tank. Again, brewers are often careless and fill the casks too full, thus increasing the liability of forcing the foam and yeast rising in the beer into the water-column. I prevent this by the use ofthe hollow cylinder O, which I interpose between the vats and the watercolumn7 and I regard this as an improvement i upon the apparatus of Wallace, and Meller and- Hoft'man. When used in connection with an apparatus wherein the pressure is regulated by means of a water-column-and I only claim it in connection with such an apparatus-its advantages are great and such as do not arise when a mere condensing-cylinder is used with apparatus of another sort.

I am aware that sedimen t-chambers and gas receivers have been designed and used in connection with apparatus for regulating pressure in fermenting-vessels, but these differ from mine in essential particulars.

I am also aware that in the apparatus of Meller and Hoffman there is shown a depending branch pipe, with a cock to discharge any condensed moisture from the pipe which connects with the water-column; but my device occupies a different position.` with reference to each of the fermenting-casks, and performs additional functions. ln my device each cask or vat is separately connected with a common cylinder, so that the foam and gases which escape pass directly into the common cylinder instead of into the other casks or vats in the series, while in others, as those shown in Ulscht, Linn and Langs Patent, No. 217,176, dated July l, 1879; Pfaudlers Patent, No. 205,572, dated July 2, 1878, each cask would need a separate cylinder, or else the foam,

which would condense more or less in the pipes,

being heavier than the gases, would enter the other casks between it andthe outlet, and

make the beer turbid in those casks into which it may flow.

In my invention each one of the pipes, E E2, and E3 is connected with a cask or vat and each to the common cylinder, and at the top of the cylinder, instead of at or near the bottom-au important change, inasmuch as the heavier matters, by the combined effect of the expansion of the gases and of gravity, are thus thrown directly to the bottom of the chamber. By this arrangement all the matter which would render the beer turbid and hinder clariication-as the hop-resin, yeast, and other solid particles of matter that rise to the surface during fermentationare carried directly out of the fermenting-cask into the cylinder without any risk of being conveyed into any other cask or vat of a series. And this device of mine, by preventing this sediment and foam and yeast from entering the water-column, keeps the water fresh and clean, saves much time and labor in emptying and replenishing the tank, and keeps the pressure regular, because the weight of the water is more nearly normal than when the foam and yeastare forced through it.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows my device in `connection with fermenting-casks containing beer in the last stage of fermentation. Fig. 2 shows it in connection with fermenting-vats containing beer in the first stage of fermentation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

In an apparatus for regulating the pressure in a series of fermenting-vessels, a hollow cylinder, common to all, for receiving and detaining foam, yeast, and particles of solid matter, and connected, by pipes entering at the top of the cylinder, with each cask or vat separately, in combination with a water-column which is connected also with such cylinder.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of October, 1881.

MATTHIAS A. MAUS.

Witnesses:

C. P. JAcoBs, FRANK A. MAUS. 

